Signaling apparatus



' July 20 1926.

B. AMES SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed June 16 Ill Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES BUTLER AMES, OF LOVTELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNALIIQ'G APPARATUS.

Application filed June 16, 1821.

This invention relates to sound producing apparatus and more particularly to electrically actuated signaling devices such as are commonly employed upon motor vehicles and in similar situations for giving warning of the approach of the vehicle.

Objects of the invention are to provide an electric horn or signaling device which may be used on either alternating or direct current, which produces a sound whose pitch is lim ted to a predetermined range even. though the frequency of the alternating current varies throughout a wider range, which produces an agreeable sound at all frequencies, which is simple, compact and rigid in construction, and which has its parts constructed and arranged to facilitate assemblage, inspection, adjustment and repair.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;-

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the horn with the cover removed;

Figure 2 is an axial section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an axial section on line 83 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the casing and the mechanism assembled thereon, cerlain parts being omitted.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings comprises in general a casing or housing 10 which supports vibrating armature mechanism and interrupter mechanism, a base plate adapted to support an electrounagnet in operative relation to the armature, and a diaphragm 20 adapted to be vibrated by the armature. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the casing 10 is generally cup shaped, and is open at each end. An annular flange 12 is formed at one end and is provided with openings through which bolts 52 are adapted to pass in order to hold the other parts in proper relative position. A vibrator spring 11 is mounted at the other end of the casing, the ends of the spring being removably secured to oppositely disposed inturned ears 11 integral with the casing by screws 18. An rniature 13 is secured to the vibrator spring centrally thereof in such a position as to span the ends of the core of an electroanagnet hereinafter to be more fully described. The armature 13 is preferably secured to the vi or p ng eri e 1t hich pass s Serial No. 477,978.

through an aperture in the vibrator spring 11, the said aperture preferably having re ceases into which the rivet expands to prevent relative rotary movement between the armature and the vibrator spring. By such an arrangement a single rivet need only be employed. The armature has a striker 15 arranged to engage an anvil bar 19 carried by the diaphragm and this striker preferably comprises the head of rivet 14 (Figs 2 and 3) and the striker also may be utilized to actuate the interrupter spring 16. The interrupter spring 16 is preferably mounted on an ear 17 struck from the housing or casing 10, the said car being bent so as to lie within the casing, in order to support the contact spring in operative relation to the vibrating armature 13. As shown, the contact spring 16 extends across the opening at one end of the casing 10, crosswise or sub stantially at right angles to the vibrator spring'll. The contact spring 16 is provided with an aperture 18 in alinement with the anvil bar 19, the aperture 18 being so disposed as to permit the anvil bar 19 to pass therethrough so that the bar may be acted upon by the vibrating striker 15 and thus transmit the vibrations thereof to the diaphragm 20. A contact point 21 is mounted in the other end of the contact spring16 and is adapted to engage another contact point 22 fixed in the contact block 23 which is in turn mounted upon and insulated from the ear 24 of the casingwhich ear is on the side opposite to that of the lug 17. The contact points are preferably composed of silver or other suitable metal which withstands the wear and sparking at the contacts. The contact block 28 is insulated from the lug in any suitable manner such for example as by the insulating washers 25. The contact block 23 may be provided. with a termi nal 26 to which one terminal of the magnet windings may be connected. The, striker 15 is of greater diameter than the opening 18 so as to engage the contact spring 16 and move the same to interrupt the current and thus to intermittently energize'the electro magnet to affect the variable field for producing the vibrations of the armature. A terminal 29 is mounted upon the side of the casing, and may be insulatedtherefrom in any suitable manner. The other end of the magnet winding is connected to the terminal a s tab e m ans ma be Pr d for effecting a connection with an outside source of current, such for example as a nut 29 threaded on the terminal.

A base plate 30 is provided on which an electromagnet comprising the core 31 coni posed of U-shaped laminations and the windings 32 is mounted. In order to securely position the laminated core 31, and to maintain the laminations thereof in alinement, its base or closed end is recessed at opposite edges to form a transverse shoulder 33 adapted to engage opposite edges 3 1 of an aperture formed in the base 30. The aperture is rectangular in form and two sides hereof are provided with upstanding cars 35 formed integrally with the base, said shoulders being adapted to extend substantially throughout the length of the laminations. A pin, or a long rivet 36, extends through the laminations of the core and the upstanding ears 35, said pin serving to hold the laminations in proper position on the base. Vhen in position, the ends 3. of the U-shaped core 31 lie adjacent to but spaced from the armature 13 so that the armature will be responsive to the variable magnetic field set up in the core. The coils 32 are formed by winding a wire upon suitable frame or spools 39 of insulating mate rial, each frame preferably having an open ing corresponding in cross section to that of the legs of the core so that the respective frames may be slipped over the latter. In order to hold the frames firmly in position, the end laminations of the core are preferably composed of relatively thin, flexible strips of material so that the ends 10 thereof may be bent outwardly against the respective ends of the frame and thus hold the frame securely in position. As shown, the base or closed end 41 of the magnetic core 31 is provided with an aperture 42 through which the striking pin 19 may pass.

The base 30 is provided with a centrally depressed portion which forms an annular flange 30 at the outer periphery of the base having openings therein adapted to aline with the openings in the flange 12 of the easing so that bolts or other suitable means may be passed therethrough for holding the parts in proper relative position. The base 30 also has openings to permit air to pass between the spaces 61 and 62 as the diaphragm vibrates.

The diaphragm 20 is preferably circular in shape and composed of a relatively thin yielding strip of metal secured at its periphery against the flange of the base. The anvil pin 19 is adjustably fixed in the diaphragm at the center thereof. As shown, a threaded head 141 is provided at one end of the pin, which head is in turn received by a threaded bushing 45 suitably secured to the diaphragm. The, threaded end of the shoulder extends through the bushing and is adapted to receive a lock nut 46 or other suitable mean for holding the striking pin in proper adjusted relation. lVhen the diaphragm is in assembled position relative to the armature and the magnet, the striking pin 19 passes through the aperture 42 in the base &1 of the core, and also through the aperture 18 of the contact spring 16 so that the end of the anvil pin 19 is in operative relation with respect to the striker 15 movable 'ith the armature 13. It is apparent therefore, that the vibrations of the armature will be transmitted to the diaphragn'i, the vibrations of which cause the signaling sounds. The anvil pin 19 may be so adjusted that the end thereof may touch or lie closely adjacent to the striker 15, depending upon the character of the sound desired. Preferably the end of the threaded head t l is provided with a slot so that the entire adjusting may be done by a screw driver. Further, by adjusting the anvil pin until the end thereof is in contact with the striker 15, any additional movement of the anvil pin will place both the vibrator spring 11 and the diaphragm 20 under tension. It is to be observed. in this connection that by so doing the striker 15 is spaced from the contact spring 16 so that the period through which the contact is made and broken may he varied. Thus, it is seen that a single adjustment at the diaphragm enables two factors to be varied which influence the character of the sound produced; namely, the tension of the vibrator spring and diaphragm and the period of energization of the coil. The arrangement of parts is such that when the arn'iature 13 is attracted the anvil pin 19 is acted upon to transmit the vibration to the diaphragm 20 and the circuit for the coils is interrupted at the contacts 21, 22. The impcllin force moving the diaphragm is due to the magnetic field and not the inherent resiliency of material as is the case with other vibrating signals.

The adjustment will usually be such that the diaphragm 20 will be stressed or receive an impact from the moving armature 13 before the spring arm 16 is moved to interrupt the magnet winding circuit. The resilient stress of the spring arm and diaphragm will be effective in the same direction as that of the vibrator spring 11 carrying the armature 13 so that such stress opposed to the pull of the electromagnet. This is not usually true of the signaling devices heretofore employed which have the parts so disposed that the diaphragm is vi brated by impacts of the armature due to the inherent resiliency of the vibrator spring su 'aportin'g the same, such impacts usually being delivered upon the return movement of the armature after being attracted toward the magnet core and the circuit for the magnet win-ding has been broken. If as adjustment of the anvil pin is such that the diaphragm is vibrated by impact from the vibrating armature, the anvil pin will not at all times be in contact with the armature, so therefore the diaphragm may vibrate freely.

An extremely small compact and rigid construction is provided by'mounting the magnet between the armature vibrator spring 11 and the diaphragm 20 and locating the anvil pin 19 between the magnet cores. It is further to be noted that such an arrangement enables the adjustment of the vibrator spring and diaplnragm tension as well as the period of contact to be regulated at the same time from the outer side of the diaphragm without the necessity of removing or disassemblii'ig parts of the horn.

The rear of the casing may be closed by a suitable cover 47 which is preferably removably secured to the casing by screws 47' or other suitable means. The cover 4L7 prevents dirt or other foreign particles from finding their way to the contacts. If it is desired to inspect or replace the vibrator spring or the spring contact, it is only necessary to remove the cover 47.

As a means of intensifying and directing the sounds produced, the usual conicalshaped horn 49 may be employed. The re- Hector %9 is preferably secured to a flange 50 which in turn is provided with an annular flange 51 provided with suitable openings which aline with the openings in the flanges of the base and casing, all of said members being held in proper fixed relative position by any suitable means, such for example as by bolts 52 and nuts 53.

While one preferred form has been shown herein, it is to be construed in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense as various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An electric signaling apparatus comprising a vibrating sounding device, an electro-magnet, an armature for the magnet, an armature supporting spring, an element rigidly connecting the armature to its spring, said element projecting from the armature toward the sounding device, a resilient contact support having a part lying in the path of movement of said projecting element, and. means for transmitting movement from the latter element to the sounding device.

2. An electric signaling apparatus comprising a vibrating diaphragm, an electromagnet, an armature for the magnet, a spring for supporting the armature, a rivet for rigidly uniting the armature and spring, said rivet having an elongate head projecting from the surface of the armature, a contact supporting spring having a part ly g n t Pathof m e ent at said hea and a rod secured to the diaphragm and axially aligned with the elongate head of the rivet and arranged to be moved by the latter.

' 3. Signaling apparatus of the class desvz'ibed comprising a. diaphragm, an electromagnet, an armature, a sprin for supporting the armature, a rivet uniting the armature to the spring, said rivet being of noncircular cross section at that part engaging the spring and having an elongate head projecting from the face of the armature, and a bar axially aligned with said head projecting from the diaphragm for transmitting movement of said elongate head to the diaphragm, a pair of contact members and a resilient support for one of said members having an opening for the passage of said bar.

4;. An electric signaling apparatus comprising a vibrating sounding device, an electro-magnet, a resiliently supported armature having a striker projecting from its face, a rod projecting from the sounding device and terminating contiguous to the striker to be actuated by the latter, and a movable contact supporting element interposed between the armature and sounder and directly engageable by the striker.

5. An electric signaling apparatus comprising a diaphragm, an electro-magnet, an armature for the magnet, a striker carried by the armature, a rod extending from the diaphragm and terminating at a point contiguous to the striker to be actuated by the latter, and a movable contact supporting element having an opening for the free passage of said rod, said element having a part thereof arranged in the path of movement of the striker to be moved by the latter.

6. A signaling device comprising a vibratory sound producing element, an electromagnet having its poles directed away from said element, an armature cooperable with the magnet, said armature having a striker member projecting therefrom in the direction of the sound producing element, a rod secured to the latter element and terminating at a point contiguous to the striker member, and a resilient contact supporting member having an opening therein for the free passage of the rod, said opening being of less diameter than the striker whereby the supporting member is moved by the striker as the armature approaches the magnet.

7. A signaling apparatus comprising a diaphragm, an electromagnet having its poles directed away from the diaphragm, a resiliently supported armature, an interrupter for the electromagnet comprising separable contacts, movable supporting means for one of said. contacts interposed directly between the armature and diaphragm, and m a includ a red COIlHected a an phragin for transmitting movement from the armature to the diaphragm and to said movable contact support.

8. A signaling apparatus comprising a base plate having a substantially rectangular opening therein, said plate having an integral ear outstanding therefrom at opposite sides of said opening, the ears being parallel to one another, an electro-magnet having a substantially rectangular core having one of its ends extending through the opening in said plate between said ears, and fastening means extending through said ears and core for rigidly uniting the core to the base.

9. A signaling apparatus comprising a base plate having an opening therein, oppositely disposed integral ears outstanding from the edge of the opening, an electromagnet having a core, said core being reduced at one end to provide oppositely disposed shoulders, said reduced portion being positioned in the opening in the base plate with the shoulders engaging the edges of the opening intermediate said ears, and fastening means extending through the respective ears and the unredueed end portion of the core.

10. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a cylindrical casing having a diaphragm across one of its ends, an electromagnet within the casing, an armature element for actuating said diaphragm in response to said electro-magnet, an interrupter element for said electro-magnet, members integral with the casing extending inwardly at the two opposite sides of said oleg-tro-niagnet for supporting one of said elements, and other members forming integral portions of the casing extending inwardly at two other oppositely disposed points oi? said casing for supporting the other O'i said elements.

Signed by me at Lowell, Massachusetts. this twentieth day of May, 1921.

BUTLER AMES. 

